Ash POV

I woke up with my mom on my mind for two consecutive mornings after I told Sere about her. It was an occupational hazard, but it still made the pain of not knowing her that much deeper. Usually, I tried to pretend like she had never existed because honestly, how much does it suck to know that your own mother is out there somewhere but you can't get in touch with her and vice versa, no matter how you want to? Whenever I happened to talk about her at length I walked around in a daze for a few days after that, just thinking about her. Where she was, what she was doing, wondering if she ever thought about me at all...

Times like those, I wished grandad was still alive, just so I could ask him more about my real mom. Selfish, I know, but I didn't exactly have a choice. All dad ever said about mom was crazily cryptic and right now, I didn't have the brain power to decipher it. My grandad had been the only member of the Ketchum family who made an effort to talk to me when I was younger and went to the family summer home in Kanto with my dad.

When my grandad was confined to his bed after his first stroke, I went to visit him several times a week and he started telling me stories about his life and how forcing dad to marry my mom was the worst thing grandad Ketchum could have done.

"Your father didn't love her at all, you see," he would explain to me in his weak, reedy voice that almost sound he has a bad cough. "All he had been interested in was the sex. He didn't think he would be stuck with her after that. Your poor mother kept hope alive, but she never had a chance to make him love her."

All those thoughts started to depress me and on the second morning, Monday, I got out of my untidy bed and let out a loud yawn as I stretched my arms out in air reaching out as I high as possible, hellbent on doing something to banish the images of my mom and grandad from my mind.

After taking a long hot shower and changing, I took Leaf to the Playgarden for the whole morning and most of the afternoon. Fulfilling my brotherly duties and having fun with my awesome little sister at the same time- how cool was that?

We got home at around 3pm but dad was expecting some 'VIP' guests and Hope was flitting around the penthouse nervously, making sure everything was perfect. There was no way I was going to hang out in such a tense environment, so I decided to bring out my inner stalker and go meet up with Sere when school was out.

Hopefully, I wouldn't run into Calem. Now that was bound to be awkward.

The instant Sere was out of Lumiose grounds, she spotted me outside near the steel gates and veered in my direction with a hesitant smile on her face. Up close, she looked tired with a scarf wrapped loosely around her neck, covering up her skin which was really strange due to the warm weather tickling around my skin.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" she asked curiously as I gave her a hug, burying my face into her short hair. "Are you here to appeal?" She said near to my ear.

"What?" I asked, confused for a second as I pulled back and looked right into her face while realising on what she meant. "Oh, you mean appeal to get back in to Lumiose? No." I shook my head. "My dad already had a talk with Principal Oak. He refused to let me back in."

Sere sighed, her eyes turned worried. "I can't imagine how your dad reacted."

"Not too well," I said flippantly. Well, apart from warning Principal Oak that he would personally get him fired. But that was only to be expected.

"What are you going to do about school?" Sere asked, a note of concern in her voice.

"Nothing, right now. Even if I went to another school, I wouldn't be able to concentrate because of these damn headaches," I said, coming as close as I would ever come to admitting that sometimes I couldn't even think when my head was thumping. "But enough of that. Where are you going?" I asked, wanting to know what she does after school. Maybe we could hang out together and spend with each other more often.

"I'm going work." Or not.

"Want me to walk with you?" I asked, even though I have lots of spare time. And even more time with Sere.

Sere threw me another uncertain look before her lips turned up in a tiny smile. "Sure. I mean, if you don't have anything else to do."

That was my Sere. Always the democrat.

I linked arms with her and looked into her oval-shaped eyes, gazing at the reflection of me. "Even if I did, I would still walk you to your work," I told her.

Her smile grew wider by the second as she gazed up at me. "You're so sweet."

"I try my best." I said, giving her a wide smile.

We started walking along the empty sidewalk in silence, hand in hand. Sere's hair blew around her face as the wind whipped it to and fro.

"I lost my hair tie," she explained in answer to my quizzical look. "I'm just going to make a big braid till I get to Clemont's."

As she put her hands up to push back her hair, her scarf slipped and despite myself, my mouth dropped open at the sight of the livid bruise on the front of her neck.

"Serena, what the f***?"

Swallowing nervously, Sere quickly covered up her neck as she yanked her scarf back up into its original place, but what has been seen can't be unseen. Especially a fresh bruise of that size.

"It's nothing, Ash. Really," Sere insisted, folding her arms around her chest and hanged her head, hiding her own face in shame.

I stopped walking in my tracks and stood in front of her, staring down into her face. Her eyes darted from left to right, not making contact with mine. I felt sick to my stomach. Was Alain back to abusing her already?

"It doesn't look like nothing," I exclaimed. "Let me see."

Slowly as she was told, Sere pulled her scarf back down, wincing as it grazed over the bruise. I stared when it was clear to see, loathing for Alain filling me. He did this, that much was obvious. I could still see the big finger and nail marks imprinted in Sere's flesh.

"What happened?" I asked, even though I knew the answer. I just wanted to hear it from Sere's own lips.

"It was Alain, but I don't want to talk about it," Sere replied wearily, her eyes downcast.

"What did he do, try to strangle you?" I asked as my right hand turned into a tight fist, digging my nails into my skin like ripping the flesh out of me. I didn't know how tight my fists were but I knew for a fact that they made a cracking sound.

Sere mumbled, "Something like that," as she stuck her hands behind her back, looking at the ground by hiding her own face.

I ran a left hand through my spiky hair, exasperated. "Sere!"

She looked up at me, scowling. "Just let it go, Ash, okay?" she snapped unexpectedly. The vehemence in her voice startled me for a second, but I wasn't going to let her anger get in the way of knowing the whole story. And why was she getting mad at me for? Couldn't she tell that I was just concerned and wanted to help her? Alain was the one she should be furious at for putting his hands on her, not me!

"Are you kidding me? Alain obviously choked you and you won't even tell me why?" The volume of my voice kicked up a notch as I stared at Sere's mutinous face. She jutted out her chin as I continued. "Were you even gonna tell me Alain hurt you again?"

"What do you care?" Sere asked, her eyes narrowed as she put a hand on her hip.

Seriously?

"What do you mean, of course I care! Would I be yelling in your face if I didn't?"

I'd never seen Sere like this before. So defensive, so uncooperative... I didn't like it one bit. It was like she had someone in her ear telling her that she shouldn't trust me because all I was doing was playing mind games. And accusing me of not caring- what the hell was she on?

"He was mad at me because I burnt his dinner, okay?" she said in a rush, her voice a chilling monotone. "So he grabbed me by the neck and he- he started to squeeze." She looked up at me, tears standing out in her eyes. I felt sick to my stomach as she continued her story. The asshole choked his own cousin just because she burnt his dinner? If that wasn't a dumb excuse for wanting to beat up on somebody, I don't know what is. "Are you happy now?"

I couldn't get over the hostility in Sere's voice. It was almost as though I was the reason she had gotten choked. Maybe I had come at her a bit too angrily, but that was only because seeing those bruises had pissed me off.

"What did your mom say?" I asked, my voice sounding calmer to my ears. Trying to control my emotions. I didn't want to fight with her, she had to have been feeling terrible already. And here I was, just attacking her even more.

Shaking her head with her short hair swaying in air till it covered a little of her face, Sere said, "She doesn't know."

"Sere," I groaned, raising my arm and gently placing my hands on her shoulders firmly in place. For a second, I thought she would shake me off but she just stood there.

"I didn't want to worry her. She has a cold- she actually had to stay home from work today." That was so Sere- worrying about someone else's wellbeing even though she had major problems of her own to deal with. I totally respected that, even though it didn't stop me from playing the devils advocate.

"But he hurt you. He keeps on doing it! Don't you think she deserves to know?" I said, sounding more pleading.

"It doesn't hurt anymore," Sere lied. Hardcore denial. "He was just angry and hungover. But he apologised."

"That's real big of him," I muttered sarcastically while rolling my eyes.

Sere shrugged, ignoring my comment. "All I have to do is hide out in my room tonight and I'll be safe. He left this morning, so he won't be back until late."

How messed up was that? Everyone had the right to be safe in their own house. Sere didn't deserve this whole walking around on eggshells thing, just because her cousin was an angry abuser.

"He'll come back drunk," I said. Slightly gripping onto her shoulder.

Sere nodded. "Yeah," she sighed.

"And someday, sooner than later, he'll do it again."

She nodded once again. "Yeah. And I still won't say anything to mom because it won't make a difference. Just drop it. It's not that serious."

Kneading her tense shoulders, I pulled her closer to me as our face were inches apart. "To me it is," I said honestly as she blinked up at me. "What's with your mom, anyways?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, two things, actually. Firstly, are you really trying to say she doesn't realise that Alain was responsible for your your busted lip and that cut under your eye?" I asked, tracing a finger down her soft cheek.

Eyes wide, she tried to interrupt me. "Ash-," she started, but I wanted to say my piece. It had obviously been niggling at me for a long time and if I didn't say it now, I might never say it.

I put my hand up to stop her. "No, really, Sere. I just have to get this out. Your mom has to realise that somethings not right. I mean, did she actually believe your story about you walking into a door?" I asked her incredulously. "I walk into doors but I never end up with bruises on my face and a bruise lip!"

Damn, I wished I could shake some sense into this girl. There was no way I enjoyed seeing her so low. And knowing that her mom could stop it if she knew- that made this situation even harder.

"She's busy, okay? Ash, my mom gives up everything for me, just so that I can go to Lumiose and get the education she thinks I deserve." She bit her lip, struggling to get her words out. "The last thing she needs is for me to trouble her with my drama."

I gently pulled her out of the way of a lady on rollerblades so that we were standing outside a hair salon and not directly on the sidewalk.

"Serena. It's not drama. Your life is at stake here!" Even though I was trying to stay calm, just for Sere's sake, my emotions kept getting the better of me.

She tossed her hair back, looking me straight in the eye. "It's not that bad."

Well, damn.

"Are you kidding me? Really, Serena? He put his hands around your neck, choked you so hard he left imprints of his fingers on your skin and you think it's not that bad?" I was quite literally at loss for words. Why was she acting so contrary? Didn't she want to be helped?

"What are you trying to get at, Ash?" Sere asked, tilting her head. "Are you trying to blame mom for Alain's behavior?"

And now she was twisting my words.

I shook my head, "No. I'm blaming her for not noticing that you're all bruised up. I don't care how busy she is, she has to know that somethings up."

Sere drew in a shuddering breath. "She's scared of him too, Ash."

"But you still have to tell her." I responded. Raising my voice a little, but not too loud for other people to hear me.

"I can't," Sere said, shaking her head frantically. "You don't know Alain. He's an accomplished liar. He'd spin the story to make himself look good and me look like the bad guy." She ran a trembling hand over her hair, patting it down. "What if... my mom believed him over me, Ash? She might kick me out" she told in a shaky voice. Her words trembled on the last part.

I looked down into her beautiful, sad face. It made a gruesome kind of sense. Sere didn't really have back up and she obviously didn't want to sour relations between her mother by accusing Alain of beating on her.

But still... "You're the one with the bruises," I pointed out softly.

"I know," Sere replied in a voice so low it was almost a whisper. "But sometimes people don't want to see whats right in front of them."

"But what if-," I started, knowing I was shooting blanks and not caring. If something I said stuck to Sere and made her think, maybe she would take action. Hopefully.

A brave smile on her face, Sere said, "Nothing's gonna happen to me, Ash."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked, taking her cold hands into mine.

"Just- let's not talk about this anymore, okay?" Her eyes brimmed with tears and she wiped them away with the heel of her hand. "Not right now. I need to get to work."

I sighed, rubbing her back as we started slowly up the sidewalk again. "Alright. I just- I hate that he does this to you and you don't have anyone to protect you." Wrapping my arm around her, I continued. "I wish I could protect you, but I can't be with you 24/7."

"Just knowing you care is enough."

Not in this case. Caring wouldn't stop Alain from hitting her, wouldn't wipe her tears. It wasn't enough for me to just care, I had to do something. I just didn't know what.

"I just wish I could get you away from that monster."

Sere sniffled again. "Me too," she whispered.

Suddenly, I asked, "Why won't your mom tell you about your dad?"

"What?" Sere shot me a puzzled look. Blame my randomness for my tendency to jump from one subject to another, but I was leading up to something.

"Your mom. You told me she might know who your dad is, but she won't tell you. Why?" I asked, narrowing my eyebrows down in curiosity.

Maybe if Sere's dad was in her life, Alain would be leery of hitting Sere.

Shrugging, Sere stared at the ground as she walked. "Maybe he doesn't want anything to do with me."

"You also told me that he has no idea he even has a daughter." Sere glanced at me, evidently surprised that I still remembered. "So if that's true, how could he not want to have anything to do with you?"

A tiny smile worked its way onto Sere's lips. "You remember too much," she mock pouted.

"Yeah, its a bad habit," I said, grinning back at her.

"I don't know why she won't tell me," Sere replied, looking at me pensively. "She probably doesn't want me to get my hopes up too high. What if he did know about me but wanted nothing to do with me?"

Personally, I didn't see that happening. How could anyone not want anything to do with Sere? She was one of the most special people I'd ever met.

"But if he knew about you and knew that you're being abused, wouldn't he do something to make sure that Alain never put his hands on you again? I mean, Alain wouldn't be the only father figure in your life anymore. He might think twice about his method of teaching you discipline when your dad is in your life." Sere shrugged, not looking too convinced. I understood what she was thinking. She'd already been abandoned. Why would her dad want her too? "Abusers are usually cowards."

"I don't know, Ash," Sere replied, sounding listless. I hated the dejection I could hear in her voice. She sounded like she had just given up. "She has a good reason for not telling me."

Or a selfish one.

I was about to speak up to answer more questions but left my mark to stop as we walked the rest of the way in complete silence till we arrived in time outside the shop, Sere turned to look at me.

"I gotta go," she whispered.

Biting my dry lip, I reached out to her. "Hey, I'm really sorry for- everything, okay? I didn't mean to disrespect your family in any way, especially your mom."

Sere nodded with a smile around her round face. "Okay."

"I just get all defensive when I see s*** like this happening to you, Sere. I hate seeing you in pain. I'm sorry if I went overboard." I said apologetically, feeling very ashamed of myself.

Stepping forward. Patting my arm lightly, Sere said, "It's okay, Ash, really. I understand where you're coming from. Besides, I'm glad you get fired up about the stuff I go through." She smiled at me, her real smile that brightens my day. "It makes me feel like I'm not alone." She said softly.

I impulsively reached out and hugged her tight in my arms with my head placed on top of her shoulder and burying in her short hair that trickled down my face. "I've always got your back," I whispered in her ear. "I don't wanna push you, but can you do me a favor?"

She pulled back a little, squinting at me. "What?"

"Just think about telling your mom. You don't have to tell her anything, but just think about it. Please."

Her shoulders dropped and she nodded, all the fight seeping out of her. "Fine Ash, I will."

"Thanks, Sere." I swallowed hard, looking at her in the eye as I pursed my lips. I wasn't feeling any embarrassment on what I was about to say next, but who cares, I'm just here to help sere. "Can I kiss you?" I finally told.

She flushed prettily across her cheeks as I asked her. "Y-Yes," she whispered and nodded at the same time, letting me leaned forward freely as my lips move over hers in a slow, sweet kiss. I slid my eyes shut to savour her taste, wrapping my arms around her waist line and roam my hands on her back. I could tell she did the same just by feeling her lips grazing onto mine. I could of done this into a make out session, but didn't have time to do it with Sere going to work so I pulled away for a while and looked at her in the eye as she slid them open with her eyes shining at me. "Thanks for walking with me." She breathed.

"No problem," I simply replied, watching as she turned around and walked into the shop and let the door swing shut behind her till she was out of my sight.

After that, I started walking down the sidewalk mutely away from her work place and then hailed a cab at the intersection.

My first plan had been to go back home and take refuge in my room, but now I had other plans. This whole Sere thing was eating me up. Even though we were both in the same kind of situation, at least I had a family, albeit with an emotionally unavailable dad. Sere didn't even know her father full well. And didn't she deserve to know him and vice versa?

My mind churned up a devilishly conniving idea. Would it be considered meddling if I went to see Sere's mom and asked her for her dads information?

Yes. Totally.

But why would her mom not tell me, especially when Sere seemed like she wanted to know? It might make her day, just knowing that her dad was out there somewhere and she could get in touch with him. And goodness knows, Sere deserved some good to come her way.

Trying to find out from her mom wouldn't hurt. If she refused to tell me anything, at least I tried. And if she decided to tell me who Sere's dad was- well, that was a whole another story.

I made up my mind not to tell Sere's mom about the abuse she was receiving at the hands of Alain, though. It was Sere's decision whether she wanted to tell her mom or not. If it was up to me, I would have told her that day Sere got beaten up by Alain, but Sere clearly couldn't bring herself to tell her. And I didn't want to be the one who caused the drama. I didn't want Sere to hate me for it.